Angry saints in Ayodhya demand restoration of old temples from Yogi govt

The development comes at a time when demand for Ram Temple construction through legislation is gaining momentum in the Parliament.

There are 173 dilapidated properties in Ayodhya, including temples and residential properties. Final notices have been served to them.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Many temples in the ancient city received demolition notices from the AMC as they are extremely unsafe
• The famous 150-year-old Narhan Temple has been issued a notice
• Some priests felt the notices are necessary and such temples should be renovated soon

Notices from Ayodhya Municipal Corporation (AMC) seeking restoration or demolition of more than 170 decrepit properties, including ancient temples, have angered citizens and saints from the ancient city.

The development comes at a time when demand for Ram Temple construction through legislation is gaining momentum in the Parliament.

Several people from the city have asked the government to immediately help in renovation of these unsafe religious sites or temples.

'Extremely unsafe'

Ayodhya Municipal Commissioner RS Gupta, however, said it is necessary to get these properties demolished as they will become extremely unsafe in future.

There are 173 dilapidated properties here including temples and residential. Final notices have been served to them. Some are getting their unsafe properties demolished while many have sought time for renovation, he said.

We got 6 properties demolished after not getting any response from the notices served to them. We will be taking action against all unsafe properties within 15 days. They will be demolished using force but safely, the municipal commissioner added.

The Narhan Temple in Ayodhya, which was built more than 150 years ago, is on of the list that got demolition/restoration notices from AMC.

'This is a religious city’

Speaking to India Today, temple priest Rambahadur Das, said, "A notice has been served to us and major part of the premises is unsafe. However, the government should do something to ensure that renovation of all the ancient temples here is done. This is a religious city and devotees come here in large number only to visit these temples."

Mathura Das, priest of Choti Kutia temple in Ayodhya, said they have received more than 10 notices for restoration or demolition from AMC.

Speaking about the notices, he said, "The notices have been served to all dilapidated properties here and it is true that many structures cannot be renovated without demotion. However, in many temples here, saints cannot afford renovation on their own. Therefore, the government must come forward and help such people."

'Can collapse anytime’

Yadav Panchyati Mandir member Mahant Bhuresharan also sought help from the Yogi Adityanath-led UP government for restoration of temples. His dilapidated temple had collapsed last year in which 2 people were killed.

Head priest of the century-old Betiah Temple, Mahant Girish Das, supported AMC’s decision to serve such notices as some of the temples can collapse anytime.

The notices are being issued because our properties are unsafe and can collapse anytime. People’s lives will be at risk. Therefore, our temple management has decided to get the property renovated. Others should also get it done, he explained.

Meanwhile, top saints from the ancient city also demanded that government should help in restoration of these temples.

Must act quickly

The chief priest of the makeshift Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Mahant Satyendra Das, said, "This place is known only for temples and history. We need to preserve it. Therefore the govt needs to find out a solution for restoration of unsafe temples. The temple seers should themselves approach the govt with this demand."

Mahant Kanhaiya Das, president of Ayodhya Sant Sabha, said, "A temple after being constructed cannot be demolished. We demand that the govt should immediately help renovate such unsafe religious sites. The promise of Ram Mandir construction should also be fulfilled soon."

Commenting on the matter, VHP spokesperson Sharad Sharma, asked If the structures made by Mughals can be protected then why can't the temples in Ayodhya be?"

We demand that the govt should take care of these sites. They represent the culture and history of Ayodhya, he added.

Not temples, only residencies

The city’s mayor Rishikesh Upadhyay claimed that misinformation is being spread that temples (dilapidated) will be demolished.

"Misinformation is being spread that unsafe temples in Ayodhya will be demolished. We will in fact be working towards their renovation. Action will only be taken against dilapidated residences which can collapse anytime, he said.

Expressing his view on AMC’s notice, UP cabinet minister Ramapati Shastri, said, "These temples should be renovated. The unsafe structures can fall anytime risking lives of people.

Delhi: Woman's body found in drain with legs chopped off

The lower portion of the body had been chopped off and is missing.

A woman's dismembered body was found in an open drain in southeast Delhi's Amar Colony area on Saturday morning. The lower portion of the body had been chopped off and is missing, said police. This is the fourth such case of an unidentified body being found in last nine days.

Police said the body was stuffed inside a black travel bag and dumped in a drain near a bus stand on Captain Gaur Marg near Garhi village. "The woman appears to be in her mid-30s and has wheatish complexion. She had a religious thread on one of her wrists and was wearing a red salwar kameez," said a senior police official.

MURDERED IN THE LAST 24 HRS

Officials said that looking at the condition of the body; the woman must have been murdered in the last 24 hours. According to the police, it seems that some portion of the body had been eaten by an animal. The woman's hands were tied in a prayer position.

Police said a PCR call was received around 10.30am after a local went near the drain to urinate. He realised there was a foul smell coming from the bag and immediately informed the cops. A case under section 302 (murder) of the IPC has been registered.

Bathinda dancer's murder: All 4 accused arrested

Police said that Sanjay is the owner of the gun that was used to kill Kulwinder Kaur while she was performing at a wedding.

Sanjay Goyal, owner of the gun used to kill the dancer.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Punjab Police arrested owner of the gun used by the accused.

• Deceased Kulwinder Kaur was performing at an event.

• The incident was shot on a mobile phone camera.

Punjab Police today arrested all the four accused in connection with the murder of a 22-year-old pregnant dancer, who was killed on Saturday evening in Bathinda.

The four arrested have been identified as: Lucky Goyal alias Billa (prime accused), Sanjay Goyal (weapon owner), groom's father Narinder Kumar, who booked the palace and the palace  owner Jagsir Singh. 

Earlier, the police had recovered a 32 bore revolver and a 12 bore rifle from Sanjay Goyal. Police said that Sanjay is the owner of the gun that was used to kill Kulwinder Kaur while she was performing at a wedding.

The prime accused Lucky Goyal is Sanjay's friend who have no criminal background, according to the police.

Sanjay, who is son of a former municipal corporation councillor, is bring produced in the court.  Both Sanjay and Lucky are small time business owners in Maur Mandi.

Kaur was shot dead on stage allegedly by Lucky after he was not allowed to dance with her troupe in Punjab's Bathinda district.

The incident happened on Saturday night during the marriage function of a local commission agent's son in Maur where the deceased was performing with her dance troupe.

Bathinda shocker: Woman sacrifices grandchildren to ward off 'evil spirits'

In a horrifying incident, a grandmother with the connivance of her son sacrificed her own grandchildren in the presence of their mother to free them from 'evil spirits'.

5-year old Ranjot and 3-year old Anamika

HIGHLIGHTS

• Nirmal Kaur and her son have been arrested by the police.
• The children were given barbaric treatment to ward off evil spirits.

• The accused grandmother decided to sacrifice the children to achieve a degree of tantra.

You may have heard ghastly stories of human sacrifices but the human sacrifice incident reported from Kotfata village in Bathinda on Wednesday evening has shocked the whole of Punjab.

In a horrifying incident, a grandmother with the connivance of her son sacrificed her own grandchildren in the presence of their mother to free them from 'evil spirits'.

Kulwinder's wife, Rozy told the police that Nirmal Kaur had on Tuesday decided to sacrifice five-year-old Ranjot and three-year-old Anamika to achieve a degree of tantra.

She assured Rozy that the children would come back to life after the sacrifice.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED

The children were laid in front of Nirmal Kaur who along with her son first mercilessly slapped and kicked them. After which, the children were beaten-up with hot tongs(chimta).

When the children fell unconscious, Nirmal Kaur ordered her son to give them an electric shock in an attempt to bring them back to life. Later, she also asked her son to put pieces of an electric tube light inside the mouths of the children.

Rozy tried to stop her husband and her mother-in-law but was beaten up and locked in a room. She kept crying for help but nobody came to the rescue of her innocent children who died of an electric shock.

People gather outside Nirmal Kaur's residence. 

The neighbours rushed to the spot when they heard the screams and called the police.

MORE ABOUT NIRMAL KAUR

55-year-old Nirmal Kaur and her son Kulwinder Singh, 32, have been arrested by the police for practicing witchcraft.

"We have arrested the accused Nirmal Kaur and Kulwinder Singh. We will take action against them. The condition of Kulwinder's wife and sister is serious. They are being given medical treatment," SSP Bathinda, Swapan Sharma said.

Nirmal Kaur claimed that the soul of Sheshnaga, the five headed divine snake which forms a coiled seat for Lord Vishnu to rest on, had entered her and that the locals should worship her.

Sources say that the accused Nirmal Kaur had also become estranged from her husband Mukhtiyar Singh and did not allow him to return home.

She had relations with some tantrics who regularly visited her.

Parents allow exorcist to kill 15-year-old daughter, rape body. Wanted to appease god for gold

A 15-year-old girl was killed by a self-declared exorcist and raped her dead body in Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj. The parents of the girl were told they would get 5kg gold if they allow him to perform the ritual. 

Parents of a 15-year-old girl allowed a self-declared exorcist to kill, rape their daughter to appease god. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Parents sacrifice daughter to appease god for gold in Kannauj.
• Were promised 5kg gold if they perform the ritual.
• A self-declared exorcist killed 15-yr-old girl, raped body.

Mahaweer Prasad, a jeweller by profession in Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj, was facing financial issues in his business. He wanted his woes to end as soon as possible.

What Mahaweer did would shock you to the core.

THE SHOCKING CASE OF HUMAN SACRIFICE

Mahaweer Prasad, 55, and his wife Pushpa, 50, were advised by one Krishna Sharma that their monetary issues would be resolved if they agree to do what he says.

Sharma, who worked as part-time driver of Mahaweer, told the couple that they would have to sacrifice their 15-year-old daughter to appease the deity. If they do so they will get 5kg gold buried soon after they perform the ritual. 

Mahaweer and Pushpa agreed to kill their daughter Kavita.

Kavita was apparently drugged by her parents and taken to a temple where they performed prayers on Tuesday night before she was taken away Krishna Sharma.

Krishna stripped, strangled Kavita infront of her parents. He then raped the dead body. After the act, he slit Kavita's throat to gather her blood to be offered to the deity.

Mahaweer approached the police only when he failed to find any gold even after 'sacrificing' her daughter. Krishna Sharma was later arrested from Thatiya village of Kannauj district.

Kavita's body was recovered from a nearby field the next day and sent for post mortem.

Fake currency racket: NIA tracking 80 Bangladeshi women in Agra, Firozabad

The NIA has set up a camp in Agra and is keeping a strict vigil on 80 Bangladeshi women, who are suspected to be engaged in fake currency dealings. A team of West Bengal police is assisting the NIA team in Agra.

Picture for representation.

HIGHLIGHTS

• NIA arrested a Bangladeshi woman in February.
• About 80 Bangladeshi women are suspected to be involved in fake currency racket in Agra.
• NIA is being assisted by a West Bengal police team.

ABangladeshi woman being arrested in Agra for dealing in fake currency, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took up this case for probe.

At present, the NIA is tracking 80 such women in Agra and Firozabad. The identities of the suspects have not been revealed by the NIA.

It is suspected that as many as 15 of them, are living in Itmaduddaulah area of Agra posing as grocery vendors while their real business is of dealing in fake currency. All these women are on the NIA scanner and their activities are being monitored.

IN SYNC WITH WEST BENGAL POLICE

Following the arrest of Bangladeshi national Apan Sheikh in Kolkata, the NIA hopes to get more details about these women, who are suspected to be the last link between the open market and the fake currency dealers. A team of Kolkata police officers and constables is closely working with the NIA, which has set up camp in Agra.

Deputy Superintendent of Police B S Tyagi told India Today that the local police have not been informed about the NIA probe. The local police have only been deployed for the security of the entire operation and the camp.

Ahead of Lucknow metro rail's inauguration, Akhilesh Yadav taunts BJP govt, calls it second inauguration

Union Home Minister and MP from Lucknow, Rajnath Singh along with CM Adityanath will flag off the metro rail at Transport Nagar Station on 5th September.

Akhilesh Yadav

HIGHLIGHTS

• Rajnath Singh and CM Yogi will flag off Lucknow metro rail on 5th September.
• In first stretch, the Metro rail will cover 8.5km of the city.
• Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party released two snaps where Akhilesh is seen symbolically inaugurating his dream project.

With all fanfare on 5th September the Lucknowites will get its first metro ride. Union Home Minister and MP from Lucknow, Rajnath Singh along with CM Adityanath will flag off the metro rail at Transport Nagar Station.

In first stretch, the Metro rail will cover 8.5km of the city and eight stations from Transport Nagar to Charbag Railway Station.  It was all smooth till Samajwadi Party was keeping mum on this issue, but before the arrival of Rajnath Singh on Monday, the two photos of Ex-CM Akhilesh Yadav had detested the saffron party of their Metro inauguration plan.

Samajwadi Party chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary had released two photographs of Akhilesh Yadav symbolic inauguration of his dream project Lucknow Metro Rail in the background of red metro engine. These photographs show that then CM is handing over the key to the women pilots in the red metro back ground. Rajendra Choudhary in his press release sarcastically says, "In last five months, BJP had done nothing but changed the name of Akhilesh Yadav programmes and this project is classic example  how one can rob the programme and policies of other party."

Yogi govt had planned big for the inauguration of this metro rail in Lucknow, where Rajnath Singh is specially coming for it. Akhilesh Yadav  couldn't inaugurate because the Centre govt had not given the NOC for the metro run. Akhilesh Yadav had made this NOC a political issue in his election speech that he had completed the first stretch and it only need an NOC from Centre to start.

This photo of inauguration by Akhilesh Yadav along with his MP wife Dimple Yadav is now released for media, where as CM Akhilesh is handing over the keys to women pilots of Metro rail. According to press release, the metro station was ready by that time even names of metro station were written in English-Hindi and Urdu, this was deliberately made late to the take credit.

Finally, the Akhilesh camp is waiting for 5th September inauguration programme and will carefully watch if he is being invited or not. People close to Akhilesh say they will keep tab on what big leaders of BJP say about this dream project of Akhilesh Yadav.